Apparatus for extracting metals from ores.



PATENTED JUNE 2,1903.

J. & L, STOVEKEN. APPARATUS FOR EXTRAGTING METALS FROM ORES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12. 19 02.

N0 MODEL.

awuembou m: Nonms PETERS co. movo-Ll'ma, wAsmNm'oN, b c,

No. 729,805. PATENTED JUNE 2, 1903. ;r.- & L. STOVEKEN. APPARATUS FOR EXTRAGTINQMETALS FROM 033s.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12. 1902.

a SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

No. 729,805. PATENTEDJUNE 2, 1903.

J.'& L. STOVEKEN.

APPARATUS FOR EXTRAGTING METALS FROM ORES. I AlfPLIOATION FILED AUG. 12. 1902.

Tm: Noam: PETERS co, wofo-umc WASHINGTON, a c.

, PATENTED JUNE 2, 1903.

J. & L. STOVEKEN. APPARATUS FOR BXTRAGTING METALS FROM 0113s.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12. 1902.

6 SHEETSSHEET 5.

K0 MODEL.

I IIII I No. 729,so5.

UNiTnn 'rnrns .Patented. June 2. 1903.

JOHN STOVEKEN, OF CRIPFLEOREEK, AND LEO STOVEKEN, OF FILORENOE, COLORADO.

APPARATUS FOR EX TRACTING M ETALS FROM ORES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,805, dated June 2, 1903.

Application filed August 12, 1902. Serial No. 119,433. (No model.)

To (L71: whom it may concern;

Be it known that we, JOHN STOVEKEN, re: siding at Cripplecreek, in the county of Teller, and LEO STOVEKEN,-residing at Florence, in the county of Fremont, State of Colorado, citizens of the United States, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Extracting Metals from Their Ores, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to apparatus for extractin g precious metals from their ores; and

' it has forits general object to provide an ap-,

drawings, inwhichparatus designed more especially for the treat;

ment of ores in which only a small percent age can be saved by amalgamation and which ores are of too low grade to betreated by bar rel chlorination and too clayey or slimy to be percolated by cyanid solution.

Theinvention will be fully understood from the following description and claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Figure l is a broken side elevation of the apparatus constituting the preferred embodiment of our invention; Fig. 2, an enlarged diametrical section of one of the agitationtanks forming part of the apparatus; Fig. 3,

a section taken in the plane indicated by the broken line 3 3 of Fig. 2 looking downwardly; Fig. 4, an enlarged side elevation of the filter forming part of the apparatus; Fig. 4, a detailed plan view of the spreader comprised in the filter; Fig. 5, a slightly-enlarged trans verse section taken on the broken line 5 5 of Fig. at; Fig. 6, an enlarged detail section taken on the broken line 6 6 of Fig. 4; Fig. 7, a de-v tail horizontalsection taken in the plane of the broken line 7 '7 of Fig. 6 looking downwardly; Fig.8, a broken longitudinal vertical section of the decanting-vat forming part of the apparatus, and Fig. 9 an end elevation of the samewith a portion of the trough broken away.

Similar lettersof reference designate corresponding parts in all of the several views of the drawings, referring to which A, Fig. 1, is an ore-crusher, which may be of any suitable description; B, a bin for con taining crushed ore; C, an elevator for transferring the crushed ore from the crusher to the bin; D, a sampler which is preferably employed,but which per seforms no part of our invention and may therefore be omitted when desired; E E, rolls disposed below the discharge of the bin 13 and having for their purpose to reduce the size of the pieces of ore;

F F, rolls, the purpose of which is to further reduce the size of the pieces of ore; G, an endless elevator arranged to receive the ore as it comes from the rolls E and transfer it to the rolls F; H, a pulverizer,preferably a ballpulverizer, which has for its purpose to reduce the ore toafinely-divided or comminuted state; I, a conduit for conducting the ore from the discharge of the rolls F to the pulverizer; J, a tank for containing the cyanid solution or other solvent used in the operation of the apparatus; K, a conduit, preferably valved, which leads from the tank J and has discharges disposed overthe rolls E and F, this to effect a mixture of the solution and ore incidenttothe grindingof thelatter by said rolls;

L, a conduit, preferably valved, which leads from the conduit K to the pulverizer H andhas for its purpose to supply solution to the pulverizer, and thereby assure the ore being ground exceedingly fine in the presence of the solution; M, a measuring device or meter of any suitable description arranged in the conduit K between the solution-tank J and the conduit L; N, an ore-feeding device of any suitable description controlling the discharge of the bin B; P, a counter-shaft from which the pump M and the ore-feeding device N are driven, this to assure a supply of solution to the rolls E and F and the pulverizer H commensurate with the quantity of ore discharged from the bin B; Q Q, agitation-tanks,of which six are preferably employed, said tanks being arranged one below the other and being pro- 0 vided with discharge-conduitsR, so as to en" able the mixed solution and comminuted ore to flow by gravity from the tank nearest the pulverizer II to the next lower tank, and so on until they reach the lasttank-i. e., the 5 lowest tank and that farthest from the pulverizer, from which they flow to the filter, presently described; S, a conduit, preferably valved, leading from the conduit L to the agitation-tank No. 1'i. e., the uppermost roo tank of the series-and designed to supply said tank with the cyanid or other solution employed; T, a suitable sand-pump interposed between and connected to the pulverizer H and the agitation-tank No. l and having for its purpose to move the solution and comminuted ore from the former t0 the latter; U,a filter arranged to receive the comminuted ore and solution from the last of the agitationtanks Q--1l. 0., tank No. 6--and having for its purpose to separate the solution from the pulp; V, a decanting-vat comprising a plurality of separate tanks designed to receive separate solutions from the filter U; W, one

or more gold-tanks'i. 6., storage-tanks for the gold solutiouarranged to receive from the vat V; X, one or more zinc boxes 11. 6., boxes arranged to receive from the tank or tanks W and filled with zinc shavings, on which the gold precipitates; Y, a sump-tank or plurality of tanks arranged to receive solution from the zinc box or boxes, and Z a centrifugal or other suitable pump connected with the sump tank or tanks and the tank J and designed to transfer the solution from the former to the latter. When the solution is thus returned to the tank J and cyanid is added thereto, the solution is used again. This materially lessensthe cost of operating the apparatus and is advantageous for such reason.

The orecrusher A, the elevator C, the grinding-rolls E and F, the elevator G, the pulverizer H, the counter-shaft P, the shafts, presently described, of the agitation-tanks Q, the sand-pump T, the filter U, and the pump Z are driven by a suitable motor or motors through the medium of suitable driving connections, which per 86 form no part of our invention and which we have therefore deemed it unnecessary to illustrate.

In the practical operation of our apparatus it will be observed that the solution is in contact with the ore incident to the grinding of the ore by the rolls E and F and incident to the reduction of the ore to a finely divided or comminuted state in the pulverizer H. By virtue of this and the subsequent violent agitation of the comminuted ore and solution in the tanks Q the solution reaches all of the values no matter how small the particles of ore in which the same are contained, with the result that when but a weak cyanid solution or other solvent is employed an extraction of from ninety-five per. cent. to ninety-eight per cent. of values is effected in from two to six hours, and this without any subsequent concentration of the tailings. The reduction of the ore to a finely divided or comminuted state2'. e., a pulverized statein the presence of the solution employed assures the solution contacting with every particle of ore,

as stated, and thereby accelerates the extraction of the values, and it is also advantageous since less power is required to grind wet ore than dry ore and because it does away with dust and lessens the wear and tear on the machinery. Itwill also be observed that the ore reduced toa pulverized state and the solution commingled therewith pass continnously and freely through the apparatus, which contributes materially to the thorough extraction of values from the ore. In this connection we desire it understood that we do not confine ourselves to the means shown and described for reducing the ore to a comminuted state in the presence of the solution employed, as any means may be employed forthis purpose withontinvolvingadeparture from the scope of our invention.

From the last of the agitation-tanks-'i. e., tank No. 6the comminuted ore and solution pass to the filter U, where the solution is separated from the pulp and washes are applied to the latter to produce weaker solu tions. The pulp is discharged from the filter as tailings, while the sol utions separated from the pulp are piped or otherwise conducted to separate tanks of the vat V. Here the slimes in suspension are allowed to settle and are drawn oif at the lowerends of the decantingtanks, while the clear solution flows 0d at one end and adjacent to the top of the vat V and is led to the precipitating-tank.

Having described the general construction and operation of our improved apparatus, we will now proceed to a detailed description of the agitation-tanks Q, filter U, and decanting-vat V.

The tanks Q are similar in construction, and hence a detailed description of the one shown in Figs. 2 and 3 will suffice to impart an understanding of all. Referring therefore to Figs. 2 and 3, a is a cylinder fixed in the cen ter of the tank Q and having a vent b adjacent to its upper end; a, a piston movable vertically in the cylinder and havinga rod (Z extending through the upper end or head thereof; e, a shaft connected by a stepfor other means with the rod d, so as to enable it to move vertically withandrotateindependently of said rod d; g, a miter-gear to which the shaft 6 is keyed or feathered and through which said shaft is adapted to move vertically; h, a head connected to the shaft 2, so as to turn and move vertically therewith; it, agitating-blades connected together and to the head h and curved in the direction of their length and inclined in the direction of their width, Figs. 2 and 3, whereby they are adapted to throw the comminuted ore and solution outward after the manner of a centrifugal pump and upward like a plow; jj, stationary wings connected to the side wall of the tank and having for their purpose to force the mixture of comminuted ore and solution hack to the center of the tank when the same is thrown outwardly by the blades 2', and 7t a pipe let into the cylinder a below the piston c and designed, in common with the pipes 7a of the other cylinders Q, to be connected with a source of fluid-pressure supply. When the shaft 6 is rotated by a driving connection intermeshed with the miter-gear it will be observed that the material in the tank will be thrown outwardly and upwardly against the wings 7', which willroll it back into the center of the tank. This is materially advantageous, since in addition to being kept insuspension the material is worked up and down, and con sequently the'cyanid solution is caused to absorb the necessary oxygen and effect arapid and complete dissolution of the gold and silver contained inthe ore.

It is desirable in the event of a stop in the operation to raise the agitator means-that is,

attendant has but to open a bleeder (also not shown) connected with the pipes 7r, when the agitators will gravitate or settle down into the working position. (Shown in Fig. 2.

It will be appreciatedfrom the foregoing that both the raisingand lowering of the agitators in the tanks Q may be quickly and easily effected without involving effort on the part of the attendant of the apparatus, which is a desideratum.

The filter U is best shown in Figs. le to 7, referring to which Z is the main frameof the filter, which preferably comprisesa base and two longitudinal uprights and is provided at the upper sides of the latter with parallel longitudinal ways m, Figs. 5 to 7; ii n, transverse shafts journaled in the uprights of the frame at the endsthereof and-equipped with sprocket-wheels'p, arranged in alinement with the'wa'ys m; r 'r, sprocket-chains mounted on the wheels 1) and having their upper stretches disposed in the ways m; s, an endless filter-cloth; t 25, endless strips of rubber or other suitable material secured to the inher side of the cloth 3 at the edges thereof and having for their purpose to bear on the upper edges of the longitudinal frame-up rights, and thereby prevent frictional wear of the cloth; nu, arms connected to the chains 1- at intervals in the length thereof and ex tending inwardly therefrom; 1; 1;, links which connect the filter-cloth and rubber belts to the arms a; w w, transverse rolls of wood or other suitable material mounted in the frameuprights below the upper stretch of the filtercloth and arranged, by preference, in three sets, as best shown in a; w m, idler sprocket-wheels disposed above and in engagement with the upper stretches of the chains 1' and having for their purpose to hold the chains down on sprocket-gears g on the rolls 10, so as to assure the rotation of the rolls in the direction indicated by arrow by the chains; transverse rolls arranged'in three sets above the rolls in and the upper stretch of the filter-cloth s and designed to be pressed by screws to or other means toward the filter-cloth; D Z), rolls, one of which is employed in conjunction with each set of rolls .2; c 0, screws, the purpose of which is to hold the upper bearing-blocks of the rolls 1) on the lower slidable bearing-blocks thereof; d. d, screws for adjusting the bearings of the rolls 1) in the direction of the length of the filter and adjustably fixing the same in position; a c, belts of rubber or other suitable material passed around the rolls and b and having their lower stretches arranged in frictional contact with the filter-cloth s; f f, receptacles'arranged under the three sets of rolls w and designed to be connected by pipes g with the separate decantingtanks of the vat- V; h h, pipes designed to be connected with a source of water-supply and arranged to spray water against the stretches of the rubber bolts 6 between the filter-cloth s and the rolls 1); 'i i, pipes arranged to spray water against the lower stretch of the filter-cloth 8, 97 a rotary beater arranged adjacent to the pipes t" and adapt ed to engage the lower stretch of the cloth 5; 71; a transverse roller arranged above the lower stretch ofv the cloth sand adjacent to the heater and having its ends journaled in disks Z off the center thereof, the disks being arranged in straps m and provided with handles a; p, a transverse roll arranged below the lower stretch of the cloth s; q, a weighted transverse roll arranged above the lower stretch of the cloth .9 and having for its purpose to squeeze the same against the roll 9, and r a rotatable spreader arranged above the upper stretch of the cloths at the receiving endof the filter. One of the shafts n of the filter is designed to be driven by a suitable motor, (not shown,) while the beater j is preferably driven from an overhead counter-shaft. (Also not shown.)

The operation of the filter U in detail is as follows: The chains 7 and filter-cloth s are driven in the direction indicated by arrow and the beaterj is rotated. The rubber belts c. are driven in the direction indicated by ar- -row by the friction between them. and the .z, where the first rubber H belt (2' presses the solution through the filtcr-cloth. This solution, which is strong, is received in the first receptacle f and is carried bythe pipe 9 to one of the decanting-tanks of the vat V. As it leaves the first set ofpress-rolls most of the pulp adheres to the first belt c. It is,

however, washed, down to the cloth by the ,spray of waterfrom the adjacent pipe 7;,

which also dilutes the values left as moisture in the pulp; The mixed pulp and Water then passes under the second set of press-rolls z, where the second belt 6' passes the solution, which is of medium strength, through the filter-cloth. This solution is received in the second receptacle 1 and conducted by the pipe g thereof to a tank of the vat V separate from that in which the first solution is placed. In leaving the second set of pressrolls the pulp is watered by the pipes 72. ad: jacent to the second belt 6, and the pulp and water are carried below the third set of press{ rolls. Here the weak solution, produced by the mixture of pulp and water, is pressed through the cloths and received in the third receptacle f, from whence it is conducted by the pipe 9, complementary to said re-' ceptacle, to a separate tank of the vat V. After leaving the third set of press-rolls the pulp is forced from the cloth by the water discharged by the pipes t" and the beaterj and is discharged as tailings from the filter through a launder ad, which may extend to a dump or any other point. After being acted on bythe beater] the cloth 5 passes between the squeeze-rolls p g, which serve to press the water from the cloth, with the result that the same returns to the receiving end of the filter in a clean and dry state. By turning the disks Z, and thereby raising or lowering the roller 76', the filter-cloth is carried toward or from the beater j to increase or diminish the action of the beater on the cloth.

It will be readily appreciated from the fore-' going that the construction of our improved filter is such that the slimes are elfectually prevented from collecting and packing down on the filter-cloth and preventing the passage of the solutions therethrough, also that by virtue of the chains traveling in ways or grooves in the frame and being connected to the filter-cloth the filter-cloth is spread out and always held in proper position with respect to the press-rolls and belts e, which conduces to the thorough separation solution from the pulp.

As best shown in Fig. 8, the vatVis divided by transverse partition-walls a into a plurality of separate decanting-tanks 0.

at its lower end with a hose a. each tank is normally closed by a clamp, Fig.

9, which comprises a fixed member (0 connected to the funnel and disposed at one side of the hose, and apivoted member a cona and are drawn off at intervals into a trough a while the clear solution passes through of the.

, Thesev tanks are designed to receive the solutionsfrom the receptacles f of the filter U, and: each of them is provided at its lower end with a steep funnel a which is provided in turn The hose of one or more conduits a at one end of the vat to the gold-tank W. When desirable, the members a of the clamps of the several tanks a may be connected together, so that all of the clamps may be opened in concert and slimes discharged from all of the tanks at one time.

The construction described for controlling the discharge of slimes from each of the decanting-tanks is materially advantagepns, since there is no liability of the pulp choking the hose, the opening and c losing'ot' the hose serving to keep the pulp loose- We prefer in practice to use a pump M and a conduit M to return the slimes discharged from the tanks a to the lowermost of the agitation-tanks or to the filter, this in order to pass the slimes through the filter the second time and recover the solution contained therein. The conduit M preferably leads from the receptacle or trough a to the pump M and thence to the lowermost agitation-tank, as shown in Fig. 1.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that in virtue of the fine grinding our improved apparatus will treat to advantage high or low grade pyritic and telluride ores without a preliminary roast, as the fine grinding frees the particles of gold inclosed in the pyrites and renders the telluride and other compounds of gold more amenable to the cyanid solution.

The spreader r is arranged in a-box 7, which preferably has an apron r. The spreader is a six-sided shaft having wooden flights or wings r on its sides, the wings at one side of the center of the shaft being inclined oppositely to those at the opposite side of the center. The spreader is driven by belt from an overhead counter-shaft. (Not shown.) r

We have entered int a detailed description of the construction ud relative arrange ment of the parts embraced in the present and preferred embodiment of our invention inorder to impart a full, clear, and exact understanding of the same. We do not desire, however, to be understood as confining ourselves to such specific construction and relative arrangement of parts, as such changes or modifications may be made in practice as fairly fall within the scope of our invention as claimed.

Having described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure .by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In an apparatus for extracting precious metals from their ores, means whereby ore is reduced to a finely-divided or comminuted state in the presence of a solvent, a series of overflow-tanks arranged to receive the mixed ore and solvent from the reduction means; said tanks containing means for agitating the ore and solvent, and a filter arranged to receive the mixed ore and solvent from the last of the overflow-tanks, and adapted to separate the solution fromthe. ore.

2. In an apparatus for extracting precious metals from their ores, means for reducing ore to a finely-divided or comminuted state,

means for supplying a cyanid or other-suitsolution, means for reducing ore to a finely divided or comminuted state, one or more conduits connected with the solution-tank and arranged to supply the ore with solution incident to the reduction thereof, means for agitating and mixing the ore and solution, arranged to receive the same from the reduction means, a filter arranged to receive the ore and solution from the agitating and mixing means, and adapted to separate the solution from the ore, one or more decantingtanks arranged to receive thesolution or solutions from the filter, a precipitating-tank which receives the clear solution from the decanting tank or tanks, and means for transferring the solution from the precipitating-tank back to the solution-tank.

4. In an apparatus for extracting precious metals from their ores, the combination of an ore-bin, an ore-feeding device controlling the discharge of the bin, means for reducing ore to a finely-divided or comminuted state, arranged to receive from the bin, a tank for containing a cyanid or other suitable solution, a conduit connected with said tank and arranged to supply the ore with solution incident to the reduction thereof, a measuring device controlling said conduit, and a common means for actuating the ore-feeding device and the solution-measuring device.

5. In an apparatus for extracting precious metals from their ores, the combination of an ore-bin, an ore-feeding device controlling the discharge of the bin, means for reducing ore to a finely-divided or comminuted state, ar-

ranged to receive from the bin, a tank for containing a cyanid or other suitable solution, a conduit connected with said tank and arranged to supply the ore with solution incident to the reduction thereof, a measuring device controlling said conduit, a common means for actuating the ore-feeding device and the solution-measuring device, a series of overflow-tanks containing means for agitating and mixing the ore and solution, a conduit for conveying solution to the first of the overflow-tanks, a pump arranged to raise ore and solution from the reduction means to the first of the overflow-tanks, a filter arranged to receive ore and solution from the last of the overflow-tanks,and separate the solution from p the ore, one or more decanting-tanks arranged toreceiveasolution orsolutions from the filter,

,a precipitating-tank which receives the clear solution from the decanting tank or tanks, and means for transferring the solution from the precipitating-tank back to the solutiontank.

6. In an apparatus for extractingprecious metals from their ores, the combination of an 7 ore-bin, means for reducing ore to a crushed state, arranged to receive from the bin, means for controlling the discharge of ore from the bin, a tank for containing a cyanid or other suitable solution, a conduit connected to the tank and arranged to supply the ore with solution incident to the reduction thereof,

means for controlling the passage of solution through said conduit, and a common means for operating the means for controlling the discharge of the ore from the bin, and the means for controllingthe passage of the solution through theconduit, whereby the supply of solution is commensurate with the supply of ore.

7. In an apparatus for extracting precious metals from their ores, means whereby ore is reduced to a pulverized state in the presence receiving the solution from the separating means, and a precipitating-tank for receiving solution from the decanting means.

8. In an apparatus for extracting precious metals from their ores, a solvent source of supply, means whereby ore is reduced to a pulverized state, in the presence of solvent from the source of supply, means for agitatin g the mixed ore and solvent, means for separating the solution from the ore, decantin g means for receiving the solution from the separating means, a precipitating-tank for receiving solution from the decanting means, and means for conducting the solution to the source of supply.

9. In an apparatus for extracting precious metals from their ores, means for separating solution from ore, decanting means receiving solution from the separating means, and means for returning slimes from the decanting means to the separating means. y 10. In an apparatus for extracting precious metals from their ores, the combination of means for separating solutions from mixed ore and solvent, and separate decanting devices for receiving the solutions from the separating means.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN STOVEKEN. LEO STOVEKEN. it

Witnesses:

WM.I-I. TABOR, .JAMES A. MOCANDLESS.

of a solvent, means for agitating the mixed 

